Blackmagic Announces the New URSA, a Camera with an Interchangeable Sensor

Blackmagic has announced a new camera, the URSA. It has multiple accessories built in, including a massive 10 inch fold out on set monitor, large user upgradable Super 35 global shutter 4K image sensor and internal dual RAW and Apple ProRes recorders. It also has a swappable sensor, so you can choose EF or PL lens mounts, or even a broadcast video sensor with B4 mount, or even upgrade the camera in the future.

You can read in a lot more detail about the camera at Blackmagic.com, but I want to highlight the features of the camera, which ditches the rectangle block for the more traditional design for broadcast media:

Built in stereo microphones for recording sound.3 separate built in LCD monitors for camera settings and metadata entry. Large 10 inch screen folds out for full resolution HD monitoring with wide viewing angle and high brightness.

Includes full copy of DaVinci Resolve software color grading and editing software.

More detail about the sensor options:

URSA EF includes the amazing 4K Super 35 image sensor with global shutter and an EF lens mount with active lens control. Now you can use low cost DSLR photo lenses from companies such as Canon, Zeiss and more.

URSA Broadcast, due later in 2014, features a whole different sensor optimized for Broadcast Video in Ultra HD, combined with a broadcast B4 lens mount and broadcast lens control connection plus built in ND filter wheel.

URSA PL includes the amazing 4K Super 35 image sensor with global shutter and the film industry PL lens mount. That’s ideal when you need to use feature film industry PL mount lenses for the most cinematic optics available.

URSA HDMI includes no sensor because it features an HDMI 4K input and mount plate for connecting any camera such as DSLR cameras! Get much better ProRes recording, monitoring, audio and timecode than what is ever included on simple video or DSLR cameras.

The Blackmagic URSA will be available in June/July from US$5,995. Hopefully they can keep to that timeline, as I am sure there will be many interested in this new camera.

Jaron Schneider is an Fstoppers Contributor and an internationally published writer and cinematographer from San Francisco, California. His clients include Maurice Lacroix, HD Supply, SmugMug, the USAF Thunderbirds and a host of industry professionals.

26 Comments

I agree! Though I would say that I'm more excited with how BM is pushing the market overall. I'm not totally impressed with this camera or BM overall, BUT it's awesome what they are doing for competition! Love it!

Here we go again...Another BM I have to add to my collection. I'm running out of justifications I tell myself. Last one was, "but it has 4k raw!" I guess this one will be, "but it has 4k raw at 60p!" Works for me, take my money.

Now whilst we've not actually seen the images from this beastie - it certainly sounds very interesting.

However, Blackmagic assume that every image might be graded and so leave us with no on-board iris controls. A single "iris" button to optimise the exposure isn't hugely helpful unless every image is to be adjusted in post - which could be quite time consuming. (It also prevents any riding of the iris or fine adjustments between or within shots).

Sure we can use prime lenses with manual iris operation but given the price tag of the camera, I'm assuming much of it's market may be made from existing DSLR users who've been happily using non-manual lenses.

If we'd had the inclusion of a conveniently placed iris control (OK, convenient is usually on the lens but close by is good enough,) and even better with 1/10 stop adjustment like the C300, then we'd have a much better solution.

It might also have been good to have had a recording format such as XDCAM HD, which requires only regular CF cards to keep up. Certainly the codecs and RAW offerings with this camera are superior, but it would have softened the transition of camera change for many. I have XDCAM on offer with my nanoFlash, so the licence can't be that expensive.

Shame the AJA is only offered with a PL mount. This could limit potential movers from other systems such as the C300 if people have already invested in EF mount lenses.

The Pak recording system seems a little restrictive in that it is an AJA only option - but then I purchased a PMW-500 with the Sony SxS cards being the only viable option so maybe not a huge issue. Currently the Pak option is a lot cheaper than the Fast CF cards of the Blackmagic.

No RAW option which is a shame. Good to see a variety of ProRes codecs though.

Now, if we could just get the iris control of the C300, the RAW recording of the Blackmagic, the ProRes options of the AJA and the ergonomics of my old DigiBeta... ah, then we'd have a camera!

I got excited at the prospect of shooting 4K RAW for such an attractive price tag, but I've just visited nofilmschool looking for more details, and I've come to understand that this article is woefully incomplete. Let's look at what's not so great about the URSA.

1. It weighs 16lbs.

In a world where filmmaking is decentralizing and becoming more mobile, this is a bad thing. Yes, when I'm shooting handheld, I'd like the camera to command a certain tactile heft, but that can be accomplished by adding weight to a shoulder rig (and I'm dreaming about a way to be able to add weight to a shoulder rig without carrying weights in your luggage). Some consider that a hassle, and it *sort of* is, but the truth is that weight cannot be removed from an already-heavy camera, and that limits the camera's adaptability. The aptly named URSA's ("female bear's") weight and Alexa-ish form factor somewhat cripples its ability to do certain things that the DSLR revolution got us excited about, like putting cameras in weird places with less gear, or putting them on smaller cheaper gymbals like the one DJI just put out (and yes, I just used the Alexa as an example of something that isn't the best for certain applications; but don't get me wrong, I'll take an Alexa any day. And no, I don't think BM intended for the name to be interpreted that way). I'm sure this isn't necessarily a big problem for some people, but if you're looking for a camera with which to do everything, the URSA's weight is probably a minus. Maybe they'll find a way to lose some weight.

2. It only shoots 4k RAW for 6 minutes. Per $1200 CFast card.

That's too short. I can't deal with that. I'm not gonna call it a 4k RAW camera. Yet. Maybe the price of cards will drop quickly as their capacity expands aggressively, but right now, it's another knock.

3. You can't format cards in-camera.

Not an issue if you've got a good relationship with your data wrangler, but sort of seems like an obvious and easy feature to include...? Firmware update fixable, probably.

Drawbacks aside, the prospects this camera offers are immense, and I can't wait to see what blackmagic does to improve upon their own work.